Saturday, 24 December 2011
In the UK most dairy cows still have access to grazing on pasture for part of the day in summer, but more cows are being kept indoors for longer, or even all year round. This is known as ‘zero grazing’, and is increasingly used in North America and parts of the UK for large and high yielding herds.
Where they do not have access to pasture, cows are often housed in sheds. Some sheds have outdoor yards.
Intensive dairy farming results in an increasing number of welfare problems for dairy cows.
Dairy farming has been part of agriculture for thousands of years. Dairy cows are bred specifically to produce large quantities of milk.
Dairy cows are required to give birth to one calf per year to continue producing milk. They are usually artificially inseminated within three months of giving birth.
These high milk producing cows are only productive for an average of 3 years, after which they are culled and the meat is normally used for beef.
Footage from a zero grazing system in the UK
COMMERCIAL DAIRY SYSTEMS
Commercial dairy cows are kept in herds that can vary in size from fewer than five cows to several thousand in large commercial farming systems.
There are around 245 million cows producing milk across the world. The European Union is the largest milk producer and has about 25 million dairy cows. This compares with 10 million in North America and nearly 6 million in Australia and New Zealand. Milk production is also on the increase in South-East Asia, including countries not traditionally noted for their milk consumption, such as China, which now has over 12 million cows producing milk.
ver the last fifty years, dairy farming has become more intensive to increase the amount of milk produced by each cow. Extreme dairy breeds such as the Holstein-Friesian, the breed most common in the UK, Europe and the USA have been bred to produce very high yields of milk. Around 22 litres per day is typical in the UK. The yield in the US is even higher at up to 30 litres per day. Milk production per cow has more than doubled in the past 40 years. If they were producing just enough to feed their calves, as nature intended, this would be about 5 litres a day.
Feed Mixer Wagons
DairyCare Pakistan offers Feed Mixer Wagons of Faresin Industries Italy. Three words to describe TMR Faresin machines, well-known, appreciated and used in many countries around the world by breeders who prefer our technologically advanced work tools. The Faresin group has been involved in top quality mechanical production for over 35 years and all the TMR machines in our product range are the concrete outcome of this extensive experience and passion. The major commitment of the Faresin team - design technicians, machine erectorsand testers, service and repair technicians and sales department staff - is to transform technical advancement into a continually enhanced range of products in order to provide our customers with tangible advantages. Faresin is unshakable on this point: it constructs better machines so you can work better.
Mixer Wagons according to Faresin quality, safety & technology meet the toughest standards. Design, construction, evaluations and tests are carried out in accordance with strict procedures and maximum efficiency criteria this is why Faresin machines are recognized as highly reliable and long lasting. Continuous innovation has for some time been a distinguishing feature of Faresin product line, and each new model represents the evolution of machines already recognized for their extreme reliability and used by breeders in innumerable countries scattered throughout the world.
Continual experimentation and testing, even on models that will never be mass produced, is Faresin training ground for discovering how to improve machines, how to make them even more high-performing. Faresin machines are manufactured in specialist production poles to guarantee high quality standards at all times.
Dairy industry in Pakistan
With the every passing day, dairy products are becoming costlier because live stock farming has not scientifically grown with the increase in population and also it did not match with the pace of urbanisation.
Recently, milk prices in Karachi increased without any reason. In a short time of two years, milk prices have gone up from Rs 20 per liter to Rs 25, showing a 25 percent increase. Moreover, meat prices have also risen to about 25 percent in the last six months.
In such a situation, the only way to control prices is to develop the dairy industry on scientific lines, which will not only provide meat and milk in abundant quantities to the domestic consumers but extra quantities can also be exported.
In spite of having a large population of LIVESTOCK, the country is spending some $40 million annually on the import of formula milk only, which is the highest amount spent by any country in the world on this particular commodity.
Currently, there are some 160 varieties of infant formula milk available in the markets. While breast milk is the best a mother can give her infant in terms of a balanced and healthy diet.
LIVESTOCK is an important sector of agriculture in Pakistan. It accounts for 39 percent of agricultural value added and about 9.4 percent of the GDP. Its net foreign exchange earnings, in 2001-02, were Its 51.5 billion, which was 12.3 percent of the overall export earnings of the country.
The role of LIVESTOCK can be judged from the fact that about 35 million people are engaged in raising 2 to 3 cattle/buffaloes and 5 to 6 sheeps/goats in their backyards and are deriving 20 to 25 percent income from it.
The LIVESTOCK, include cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, camels, horses, asses and mules. During the last five years, the combined population of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat increased from 113 million, 1998-99, to 125 million, 2002-03, depicting a total increase
of 12 million or 24 lac heads per annum.
In the year 2002-03, the domestic live stock population was estimated at 23.3 million cattle, 24.8 million buffalo, 24.6 million sheep and 52.8 million goats. During 1998-03, maximum increase was in the population of goats, showing an increase of 70 lac heads or 14 lac heads per annum.
During this period, production of beef increased from 963 to 1060 thousand tons and mutton from 633 to702 thousand tonnes.
This shows that the total increase in beef production was 97,000 tonnes or 15.4 thousand tonnes p.a., and mutton 69,000 tonnes or 14,000 tonnes.
TABLE - 1:
============================================
Production of LIVESTOCK Products
--------------------------------------------------------------
Product 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
Milk 24,877 25,566 26,284 27,031 27,811
Beef 963 986 1010 1034 1060
Mutton 633 649 666 683 702
============================================
The per capita availability of milk was 150 litre and meat 19kg per annum in 2000-01, which comes to 0.41 litre milk per day and 5.2 grams meat per day.
To meet the domestic demand of milk and meat, the rate of growth must be at least 5 to 7 percent per annum.With the every passing day, dairy products are becoming costlier because live stock farming has not scientifically grown with the increase in population and also it did not match with the pace of urbanisation.
Recently, milk prices in Karachi increased without any reason. In a short time of two years, milk prices have gone up from Rs 20 per liter to Rs 25, showing a 25 percent increase. Moreover, meat prices have also risen to about 25 percent in the last six months.In such a situation, the only way to control prices is to develop the dairy industry on scientific lines, which will not only provide meat and milk in abundant quantities to the domestic consumers but extra quantities can also be exported.
In spite of having a large population of LIVESTOCK, the country is spending some $40 million annually on the import of formula milk only, which is the highest amount spent by any country in the world on this particular commodity.
Currently, there are some 160 varieties of infant formula milk available in the markets. While breast milk is the best a mother can give her infant in terms of a balanced and healthy diet.
LIVESTOCK is an important sector of agriculture in Pakistan. It accounts for 39 percent of agricultural value added and about 9.4 percent of the GDP. Its net foreign exchange earnings, in 2001-02, were Its 51.5 billion, which was 12.3 percent of the overall export earnings of the country.
The role of LIVESTOCK can be judged from the fact that about 35 million people are engaged in raising 2 to 3 cattle/buffaloes and 5 to 6 sheeps/goats in their backyards and are deriving 20 to 25 percent income from it.The LIVESTOCK, include cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, camels, horses, asses and mules. During the last five years, the combined population of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat increased from 113 million, 1998-99, to 125 million, 2002-03, depicting a total increase
of 12 million or 24 lac heads per annum.
In the year 2002-03, the domestic live stock population was estimated at 23.3 million cattle, 24.8 million buffalo, 24.6 million sheep and 52.8 million goats. During 1998-03, maximum increase was in the population of goats, showing an increase of 70 lac heads or 14 lac heads per annum.
During this period, production of beef increased from 963 to 1060 thousand tons and mutton from 633 to702 thousand tonnes.
This shows that the total increase in beef production was 97,000 tonnes or 15.4 thousand tonnes p.a., and mutton 69,000 tonnes or 14,000 tonnes.
TABLE - 1:
============================================
Production of LIVESTOCK Products
--------------------------------------------------------------
Product 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
Milk 24,877 25,566 26,284 27,031 27,811
Beef 963 986 1010 1034 1060
Mutton 633 649 666 683 702
============================================
The per capita availability of milk was 150 litre and meat 19kg per annum in 2000-01, which comes to 0.41 litre milk per day and 5.2 grams meat per day.
Despite an increase in milk and meat production, the prices have moved upward abnormally.
The recent increase in meat prices is attributed to the export of live animals or meat to the Middle East and Afghanistan.
There was a time when animals used to be imported or smuggled from Afghanistan into Pakistan but after 9/11 the situation suddenly took a 'U' turn. In Afghanistan, the war has seriously affected the LIVESTOCK sector.
Thus Pakistan started exporting instead of importing LIVESTOCK from Afghanistan.
According to official figures during July-August, 2002, animals worth Rs 30 million made their way to Afghanistan. Besides, the smuggling of LIVESTOCK from Pakistan to Afghanistan has also started in a big way to meet their domestic shortage of animals.
The country, though rich in LIVESTOCK, rarely got a chance to export meat or meat products to earn foreign exchange. It was offered an opportunity when various Middle East states stopped importing meat from European countries due to the incidence of the mad cow disease.
Meat export from Lahore started in the beginning of the year 2000 when carcasses of goats and large animals were airlifted.
The meat was processed under a special arrangement between the exporters and the Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore, which runs four abattoirs in the city.
The exports of LIVESTOCK - cow, buffalo, sheep and goat - are finding their way to the Gulf States, Iran and Afghanistan where there is a shortage of good quality meat and, therefore, it commands a high price.
Traditionally, Europe was the biggest exporter of meat and meat by-products and LIVESTOCK and had been a major source of foreign exchange for several European countries.
Technically, meat from South Asia has a superior quality, due to grazing and vegetable concentrates as the main source of LIVESTOCK feed here, against bone and meat meal in Europe.
According to official figures, the export of LIVESTOCK, during 2001-02, registered an abnormal growth of 51 percent to a value of Rs 221 million as compared to 2000-01, when exports of meat stood at Rs 146 million.
The estimated export of these four categories of LIVESTOCK is estimated to be more than Rs 275 million during the fiscal year of 2002-03.
A rising trend in LIVESTOCK export was also sustained during the first two months of current fiscal year as exports of animals worth Rs 43 million were reported to have been achieved.
There is a greater possibility that this trend would go unbridled if the government does not take corrective measures to ensure a steady supply of animals in the domestic market.
As a result of this, the value-added leather industry, including leather garment manufacturers who mostly use raw hides and skins obtained from cows, buffaloes, sheeps and goats are faced with a shortage of raw material.
Therefore, the Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) chairman Fawad Ijaz and the Pakistan Tanners Association chairman S.M Naseem has urged the government to immediately impose a ban on export of LIVESTOCK.
If Pakistan wants to continue meat and live animal export, besides meeting domestic demand, modern meat processing plants and LIVESTOCK farms should be set up all over the country.Here we are giving some details of new to set up a unit to raise 50 animals on commercial basis, for more details Smeda can be contacted.
DAIRY FARM OF 50 ANIMALS PROJECT BRIEF:
Dairy farming is an agro-based activity, buffaloes and cows can be raised for milk production in an organised manner for commercial purpose.
For this project, animals can be purchased from the animal markets or breeders in Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad.
More than 70 percent farmers hold less than 5 acres of land. Dairy farming may prove a profitable business for small landholders.
They can also grow fodder on their land to feed dairy animals, without disturbing the main crop.
Dairy farming is one of the best projects if professionally done on small land holdings. The return of the land used for feeding animals is higher as compared to land used for traditional cropping.
The economical size of the herd is 50 animals, which will grow into 180 animals within a few years. Cows are also proposed in the herd, as they are high yields and efficient converters of feed into milk.
This herd would consist of 75 percent buffaloes and 25 percent cows. A cow, on average, yields 14 litres milk a day over a lactation period of 305 days whereas the buffalo, on an average, yields 10 litres a day over a lactation period of 280 days.
The lactation period is the period during which the animals provide milk. These animals are called wet animals. Generally the lactation days of cows are 305 days and that of buffaloes is 280 days.For calculation, 77 percent of the total number of cows has been taken as wet cows and 67 percent of the total number of buffaloes as wet buffaloes.
The calving interval in a buffalo is about 18 to 20 months, while a cow has 15 to 16 months.
On an average, cows are productive for 7 to 8 years, while buffaloes are productive for 8 to 9 years. Male calves will be sold at the end of year or can also be reared separately for beef production.
Pakistan is the fifth largest milk producer in the world. Milk production is 28 million tonnes from 125 million heads. Milk is used for drinking, tea, desi ghee, yogurt and butter making.
Milk is also used to make Khoya and different types of sweets. Milk processing companies use milk as a raw material to formulate different types of milk ie pasteurised milk, UHT milk, condensed milk, skimmed milk, milk powder, etc Different value added products like yogurt, ice cream, butter and cheese are also produced from the raw milk.
The daily consumption of milk in Lahore is 2 to 3 million litres and that of Karachi is 4 million litres.The demand for processed milk has increased its share in quality conscious consumers. During the last two decades, processed milk has achieved 4 percent share in the milk market of Lahore, which is growing to about 4.5 percent per annum. Therefore, metropolitan cities are the major markets for the sale of milk.
The capital cost will be budgeted for 4 years; therefore the initial infrastructure cost has been calculated on the basis of a 4th year infrastructure requirement.
The total cost of the project is estimated, by Smeda, to be about Rs 2.94 million, out of which the capital cost of the project is Rs 2.67 million. Total infrastructure cost of 13 thousand sq ft would be about Rs 842,388.
Besides hiring a tractor for fodder sowing, only a few simple farm equipment's like a fodder chopper, water pumps, milk utensils will be purchased.
With the green fodder, to increase animal productivity, the ration feed will be given, which includes cotton seed cakes, corn gluten, wheat bran, molasses, and choker. About 1 kg of concentrate is required for the production of 3 litres of milk.
There is no fixed fodder requirement for the animals but a rule of thumb says that an animal needs daily fodder equal to 9 to 10 percent of its body weight. According to estimates, buffalo consumes 40-55 kg fodder daily while cow consumes about 30-40 kg. For a high yield the animals would be fed on a high protein diet concentrate.
For this dairy project, manpower requirement is 7 for performing different activities like feeding, milking, etc, which may cost about Rs 240,000.
Animals are prone to some sort of disease, at any stage of their life. Disease like foot and mouth, diarrhea and digestive disorders are very common in animals, which affect the productivity of the LIVESTOCK.
Only proper vaccination can keep the animals healthy. Healthy and high yielding milk animals are the key to the success of a farm.
The strain of producing enormous amounts of milk
The natural lifespan of a cow is up to 20 years, yet few cows live beyond the age of seven years, and many younger animals go to slaughter.
Selective breeding, and more recently genetic manipulation, has resulted in the selection and production of cows which produce enormous amounts of milk. The modern dairy cow can produce about 35-50 litres of milk per day—about ten times more milk than her calf would need
Producing large quantities of milk puts a significant metabolic strain on the animal. The great weight of the udders often causes painful stretching or tearing of ligaments and frequently causes foot problems, such as laminitis. These foot problems can be associated with significant pain. Dairy cattle are also susceptible to infections of the teat and udder (mastitis) - this can be very painful.The milking machine itself may render the cow more susceptible to infection. The front teats may be subjected to vacuum pulsing for up to two minutes after the quarter has been emptied and while the hind teats are still yielding. This is believed to be painful for the cow, and may also weaken tissue. The nature of the vacuum milking process is known to increase the possibility of infection.
Dairy Cows Fact Sheet
In this factsheet...
- Cruel separation
- The fate of the calf
- The strain of producing enormous amounts of milk
- Frustrated Maternal Instincts
- Induced calving
- The docking of cows' tails
- Dehorning of cows, disbudding of calves
- Statistics
- Dairy health myths
- Dairy's impact on the environment
- Conclusion—the ethics of the dairy industry
Calves are taken from their mothers within 12-24 hours of birth. The separation breaks a strong maternal bond, and both cows and calves suffer.
To keep producing milk for human consumption, a dairy cow must produce a calf each year.
Cruel separation
Calves are taken from their mothers within 12-24 hours of birth. If nature was allowed to take its course—calves would suckle from their mother for several months, even up to a year. Mother cows, like most mammals have a strong maternal bond. One study found that this bond was formed in as little as five minutes.[1]
When calves are removed mother cows will frantically bellow for the offspring that they will never see again. Separated calves appear frightened and bewildered. Regardless of how this situation is handled this separation causes enormous stress for both the cow and calf.
New mothers are returned to the milking herd to maximise profits. The milk that nature destined for the calf is then processed for human consumption.
^ topThe fate of the calf
Around three quarters of a million unwanted dairy calves, not wanted for herd replacement or rearing for pink veal, are slaughtered each year as ‘waste-products’ of the dairy industry — usually at around the tender age of 5 - 6 days old. Dairy calves are not valued as they don’t grow at the same rate as beef calves and their meat quality is considered sub-standard by the beef industry. As soon as calves reach their fifth day of life (after separation from their mothers they are fed a milk substitute) the Australian livestock transport standards [2] allow the calves to be transported to abattoirs and saleyards. Bewildered calves are subjected to the stresses of unfamiliar sights and sounds and multiple and often rough handling as they are transported to calf scales, sale yards and slaughterhouses.
While Standards and Guidelines are written to protect the welfare of animals during transport [2], these fall far short from protecting these young vulnerable animals from suffering.
For example, the industry deems it acceptable to withhold food (milk) from five day old calves for up to 30 hours before they are slaughtered. This means that calves can be fed in the morning, than transported and kept at the abattoir overnight without any food before being killed the next day. To go without food for such an extensive period of time has an enormous negative welfare impact due to a feeling of hunger next to the already stressful event of transport. Whilst calves normally suckle about 5 times a day, the Australian Standards and Guidelines for transporting animals allow this to happen.
Australia needed Sahiwal qualities
Sahiwals are beef producers with pure Bos indicus genes. On the advice of the CSIRO they were imported into Australia from Pakistan in 1950 by the Australian Government. The reason was to provide an ongoing resource of Bos indicus, particularly for infused breeds which may be losing their Bos indicus content.
Apart from Bos Indicus features of Sahiwals, they were chosen because of their other qualities needed in the beef industry, like heat tolerance, high degree of drought resistance, as well as a resistance to parasites, both internal and external.
Having been in the field since1960, they have demonstrated an ability to sire small but quick growing, livable calves. High grade Sahiwals, when used over the larger British/European breeds, will go a long way towards eliminating problems with calving. These same high grade Sahiwals, used over non-Indicus cattle, will also produce a carcass of lean meat, with desirable fat cover which meets the requirements of the market. Their fast muscle growth genes provide this feature.
The meticulous systems, stud records and herd recording that is followed in Australia have resulted in the unexpected situation where [lie records of Sahiwal genetics are more reliable in Australia than it is in Pakistan. On the global scene there is currently a scientific project in place to map the genetics of all cattle breeds. ': his is the Bovine Genome lap ping program.
When the London based international research body attempted to locate herds in Pakistan with meticulous records it was found that the level of precision in the records was just not available. The CSIRO was approached to find if there were any Sahiwal herds in Australia with reliable records and the Australian herd book was found to be accurate, detailed and reliable. In what may seem a bizarre situation, herds belonging to members of the Australian Sahiwal Association were used as the source information for the Bovine Genome Mapping program.
This may prove a number of things about the professionalism of the Australian cattle industry generally but one thing it definitely proves is the fact that anyone purchasing registered Sahiwals in Australia can be sure they are getting the absolutely genetically authentic product. Sahiwals are generally red in colour, ranging through reddish brown with various amounts of white on the neck, the underline and even on the body. In males, the colour darkens towards the extremities which may even be black. The cattle imported to Australia carried very little white on them.
Sahiwals are characterized by their high fertility. The females display ease of calving and have a reproductive life of up to 20 years. Once the calf is born they are excellent mothers. Another benefit for both stud and commercial operators is that there is a short period between calving and the ability for the animal to conceive again.
When crossed with other breeds Sahiwals produce excellent hybrid vigor. They have a kick and parasite resistance, excellent feed conversion rates and are adaptable to a variety of geographical areas and climates within Australia. As medium sized, low maintenance cattle, they are suitable for use in small farms.
The Australian Sahiwal Association was formed in the mid-1960s and it currently has 15 members, mainly in Queensland and northern NSW.
The aim of the association is to promote the breed and to give support to stud owners - both those who are long standing members as well as those who are new.
Cattle for Sale from:
 | Breed | Sahiwal $2200 |
| Name | Dakabin HornettPurebred Bull | |
| DOB | 10/07/2007 | |
| Sire | Tallabilla 216 | |
| Dam | Dakabin Eliza | |
| Weight | 661kg | |
| Special Features | Dark red in colour, excellent sheath, quiet and easy to handle, well muscled rump. Halter broken. |
 | Breed | Sahiwal $2200 |
| Name | Dakabin IsmaelPurebred Bull | |
| DOB | 7/03/2008 | |
| Sire | Tallabilla 269 | |
| Dam | Dakabin Ella | |
| Weight | 568kg | |
| Special Features | Dark red colouring, excellent temperament, easy to handle, well muscled. Halter broken. |
 | Breed | Sahiwal $1200 |
| Name | ||
| DOB | 27/11/2008 | |
| Sire | Tallabilla 269 | |
| Dam | Registered full blood cow | |
| Weight | 273kg | |
| Special Features | Full blood bull, lighter colouring, excellent sheath. Halter broken. |
 | Breed | Simbrah |
| Name | Dakabin Ezra | |
| DOB | 22/01/2009 | |
| Sire | Sahiwal Tallabilla 216 | |
| Dam | Simmental Yarrayne Velvet | |
| Weight | TBA | |
| Special Features | Well grown for his age, sleek dark red coat with a white blaze on his forehead. Well muscled with an excellent sheath. |
| PHOTO_PENDING_____ | Breed | Simbrah |
| Name | Dakabin Finn | |
| DOB | 03/01/2010 | |
| Sire | Sahiwal Tallabilla 216 | |
| Dam | Simmental Yarrayne Velvet | |
| Weight | TBA | |
| Special Features | Well grown for his age, sleek dark red coat with a white blaze on his forehead. Well muscled with an excellent sheath. |
| Fertility | Cross Breeding |
| * Ease of Calving | * Hybird Vigour |
| * Reproductive up to 20 years | * Predominantly Red Colour |
| * Excellent Mothers | * Unique Blending Capactity |
| * Short Calving to Conception Period | * Ideal Crossbred Mother |
| * Resistant to Eye Cancer | |
| * Eliminates Calving Problems | |
| * Stabilises Herd Quality | |
| Tick and Parasite Control | Feed Conversion |
| * Source of Pure Bos Indicus | * Superior Fodder Utilization |
| * Resistant to Ticks | * Drought Resistant |
| * Low-Cost Maintenance | * Recovers well from Drought |
| * Sahiwals are 'No Dip Cattle' | * Bloat Tolerance |
| Adaptability | Weight Gain and Carcass Appraisal |
| * Florishes in Tropical Areas | * Lean Meat with Even Fat Cover |
| * Does well in all Areas of Australia | * No Excess Fat = Lean Meat |
| * Equable Temperament | |
| Ideal for Small Acreage | |
| * Medium Sized Cattle | |
| * Low Maintenance (resistance to parasites both exyernal and internal) | |
| * Thrive in the sub-tropics under harsh conditions | |
| * Efficent Feed Converters | |